Feeling Jittery

[warramra]

I'm just feeling all out of sorts this evening. I know a lot of it has to do with all the general sky-is-falling world around us. Plus, my DH is out of town. Which is very rare.

But I digress, here is the deal...For several years now I have had this nagging feeling in my gut that something big and transitive was going to be happening soon. As this year has gone on that nagging feeling has grown worse. And these last two weeks with all the financial stuff I am getting really worried.

Personally, I believe that the real problem with our economy dates back to our factories going overseas, stagnation of income and in turn trying to live off credit to cover up the fact that the US has very little to trade other than $$$. So therefore the $700 billion bailout is nothing than a very big bandaid that will work as well as the levees around New Orleans in Katrina.

I've read a about some of tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories floating around and tend to shrug them off. But, gawd what if some of them just might have an inkling of truth to them. It seems like over the last 8 years every time things in our nation start to calm down a little, we get side-swiped by another "national emergency." Partly I just want the worse to get here already so that we can start rebuilding. The worse is just waiting, knowing in my gut that life is very likely going to get more difficult.

I have my stockpile, and I refuse to live my life in fear, so I will get up tomorrow and continue my life. I just wanted to vent and was wondering if anyone else was feeling out-of-sorts over the recent events.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Yup, I have been, too. And Dh tells me not to worry so much... So, I try not to.

I said to him the other night that I wish they'd just forgo the bail out. I just don't believe it will "save" us in the long run...will just mean more debt for the country. I kinda wish they'd just let them all fend for themselves on Wall Street, KWIM? Let the $hit hit the fan (excuse me...can't think of another similar phrase), so to speak.

[Palooka]

You are not the only one feeling this way. I've had some really bad feelings for awhile that something bad would happen but I don't really know how to pin point it and still do not.

[warramra]

Yup, I have been, too. And Dh tells me not to worry so much... So, I try not to.

My DH is normally not the type to worry, I do enough for the two of us. But, before he left on this trip he was telling me that he really wished he didn't have to go on this one. If he had "known" he never would have agreed to it. So, when my "rock" expresses concern it makes me worry just a bit more.

There isn't a thing I can do about it, so I'll just sit back and watch it all play out.

[frugalbabe]

I think lots are feeling the same way as you I know I do as well from time to time. I always try to remember that the media really does exaggerate things and the whole "If if bleeds it leads" not trying to say things aren't serious they are but try to see some humor in it I guess. I was listening to Dave Ramsey the other night and he said the funniest thing "The media has accurately predicted 33 of the last 4 recessions" he was quoting someone else but it did make me laugh and help to keep in perspective that the media loves to predict the end of the world and as far as I can tell the sun keeps rising every morning.

[caradana]

I promise you that the sky is not falling. And don't worry, the United States has a heck of a lot more in the GDP than financial services. Most significantly, this is the biggest knowledge center on the planet, with the most educated population. The best thing that ever happened to us economically was to get out of the widget market and invest in information transfer. Life will be fine. The next few years won't be a pretty ride, but at the end of the day, this is the greatest country in the world, and for every one person here there are 100 in the world who would cut off their right arms, literally, to join us.

[warramra]

I promise you that the sky is not falling. And don't worry, the United States has a heck of a lot more in the GDP than financial services. Most significantly, this is the biggest knowledge center on the planet, with the most educated population. The best thing that ever happened to us economically was to get out of the widget market and invest in information transfer. Life will be fine. The next few years won't be a pretty ride, but at the end of the day, this is the greatest country in the world, and for every one person here there are 100 in the world who would cut off their right arms, literally, to join us.

Throughout history countries that cannot sustainably support their people through natural resources and production are those that eventually fail. "Information Transfer" as an economic sustainable idea is ludicrous. An the United States is not the "Greatest Country in the World", it is just another country out of a hundred and something, with human beings just wanting to survive and grow. It is thoughts like this about our country that get us into trouble.

A strong economy employees people at a living wage and provides opportunity for new growth. An economy that is dominated by a few corporations at the top that are free to play fast-and-loose, more concerned with shareholders and CEO pay than employees/consumers is a weak economy. An economy that is dependent on consumer debt is a failing economy.

What the media is telling us is a lot less scary than what they are not telling us. We've spent the last year hearing that the economy was fundamentally fine, just certain areas were in trouble. While all along most common people could have told them that it wasn't. Now, after dumping how many billions of dollars already into a system that was "fine" we are told that we have to spend 700 Billion more or life with cease to exist. What do the powers-that-are not want us to know. That is what makes me Jittery.

[JanieD]

I'm concerned, but not worried at this point. I honestly think the media is pushing the panic factor of the financial crisis & our government is using this to encourage us to see what they want us to see (the bail out fix). Not to say it isn't a big problem (I tend to simplify issues though). I'm somewhat amazed someone finally admitted the US is in trouble. Guess it was unavoidable with the recent developments. I agree, its been coming for long time coming & I'm sort of waiting to see what will happen next. Maybe I shouldn't be waiting, but not sure what I can do otherwise.

[WV_mom_of2]

I'm feeling it too! I am just a simple country girl who doesn't know much about politics, etc. but this entire year I've watched prices go up, people around me lose their jobs, our money stretch tighter and tighter and I've had a really bad feeling about it all. My dh tends to live the "everything will be ok" life and he's even getting worried lately!

[suzysaver]

Maybe just prepare some for tuffer times, I have been thinking about buying a few extra clothes to put away for us and just bought a used pressure canner. I am worried, but only to a point. I'm just trying to look a bit farther ahead and be prepared for things we may not have the funds for later. This might at least make you feel like your doing something, rather then feeling a bit hopeless. I too believe things will be fine, and we will all see it through. It's giving me more perspective on what is truely important, simple things like family and friends.

[caradana]

We're twice as big as Japan in terms of population.
We have more people with a college degree than any other country.
Think absolutely ... not relatively.

[ebrandwein]

But I am certainly concerned, at least in the short term. This country has been through tough times before and I am confident that we will survive this situation too.

What worries me now is this-Where are we in this downturn? In the past, losses have generally been fairly easy to quantify. Enormous in some cases but the number was known. In the instant case, we still don't really know where the bottom is. That is a problem that is shaking the confidence of many of the institutions that make our economy go.

To use a baseball analogy, if we are still in the 1st or 2nd inning, then there are a lot of losses that are still waiting to reveal themselves. On the other hand, if this is the 8th inning, then the worst is probably over. Right now, we are hearing that $700 billion will be needed for Wall St. and as much as $400 billion more to cover bank failures. These are not hard and fast numbers by any means.

Until the basic scope of this downturn becomes reasonably clear, we are all going to be living on pins and needles. And that has costs too. The more apprehensive we all feel about money, the less willing we are to part with it. That can become a self fulfilling prophecy very quickly.

Right now, cooler heads need to figure out how bad this really is and then level with the American people. Then, and only then, can we get this mess cleaned up.

[caradana]

Hey Jason, Japan is headed for a world of hurt with their contracting population and anti-immigration tendencies. Demographically, they will be FASCINATING to watch over the next 20 years or so.

[Starlight9803]

I've been worried myself for awhile. Though I think everything will settle down a bit in the end (and there will always be another "hiccup" along the road), I feel that we are going to have at least a couple more really uncertain years. I try not to panic too much though and just use it as inspiration to pay off our debts, become more self-sufficient and get used to a much more simple lifestyle. That way we come out ahead in the end.

[LastDragonfly]

I have my stockpile, and I refuse to live my life in fear, so I will get up tomorrow and continue my life. I just wanted to vent and was wondering if anyone else was feeling out-of-sorts over the recent events.

I too am a little out of sorts. I understand your concern. It's not one thing that you can put your finger on exactly but just the little nagging in the back of your mind. (or for me it's like that)